Linear film developing tank



July 6, 1965 s. H. ENER LINEAR FILM DEVELOPING TANK Filed July 23, 1962 r l I I I I l Il mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm INVENTOR S/HEr H'. .EA/5R BY i//Mxm IT TOR/VE Qs United States Patent() 3,192,847 LINEAR FILM DEVELOPING TANK Siret H. Ener, 1219 Fifield, St. Paul, Minn. Filed July 23, 1962, Ser. No. 211,654 1 Claim. (Cl. 9S-97) This invention relates generally to film developing apparatus and equipment, and more particularly it relates to a novel film developing tank structure forgelongated strips of film. Y

Persons desirous of developing roll film, particularly color film, have heretofore been confronted with the necessity of using a relatively large volume of rapidly aging and deteriorating developer solutions. The minimum amount of processing or developing solution available is designed for use with a relatively large volume developing tank presently on the market, .and which minimum amount of solution is useful for developing approximately six rolls of twenty-exposure, 35-millimeter film. Obviously, the above considerations limit the amount of money which a hobbyist or a relatively small processing laboratory can save by processing the film. Particularly with hobbyists, it is a tendency for people to want their exposed pictures processed as soon as possible, and with the relatively large volume developing tanks which are presentlyy on the market, the economic disadvantage of processing or developing a single roll of film often outweighs the desire for rapid processing.

As compared with the above noted problems which are characteristicof previously available developing tanks for roll film, this invention has for one of its objects to provide an elongated film developing tank structure which is free from the above mentioned objections and moreover also possesses further advantages, as Will be noted hereafter. v

Another `object of this invention lis the provision of a developing tank structure for elongated strips of film which is particularly designed and constructed so as to use a minimum volume of developing and processing solutions. f I

Another object of this invention is the provision of a film developing tank structure adapted to receive a roll of film in its unrolled or elongated condition, and which is further provided with film edge receiving grooves arranged and adapted to position theV film strip within the developing chamber in -a transversely generally arcuate configuration. y

-Another object of this invention is the provision of a film developing tank structure which includes a pair of generally cylindrical body portions which are spaced in generally co-axial relationship whereby to provide means for quickly revolving the developing tank structure about its longitudinal axis. j

Another object of this invention is the provision of Va developing tank structure for elongated strips of film which includes an elongated tank body having one side wall which is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced protuberances'adapted to maintain a slight spacing between the film and the side wall of the tank body.

Another object of this invention is`the provision of film developing apparatus which includes an elongated tank body having novel end closure means provided for the opposite ends thereof, and which further includes novel liquid openingvand fluid opening provisions therein.

Other objects of this invention reside in the provision of film developing apparatus for elongated strips of film which is characterized by simple and efficient operation, which is strong and durable in its construction, and which may be economically produced.

The above and stillfurther objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed specification, appended claim and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts or elements throughout the several views;

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of this-invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail view in section of one end portion thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the film developing apparatus and tank structure comprising the present invention includes an elongated tank body, represented generally by fthe reference numeral 1. The elongated tank body 1 includes a pair of spaced longitudinally extending side walls 2, 3 and a pair of spaced longitudinally extending edge walls 4, 5 connecting with the side Walls 2, 3. The tank body 1 defines an elongated developing chamber 6 adapted to receive an elongated strip of film, represented by the reference character f. rThe tank body 1 is preferably formed from a generally transparent material, such as Lucite or the like.

The tank body 1 Iis constructed so that the developing chamber 6 thereof has its relatively large or greatest transverse dimension generally equal to but slightly less than the width of the film strip f so that when the film strip is inserted in the tank body 1, the same will be generally arcuately positioned with respect to a transverse direction. Also, the other transverse dimension of the developing chamber 6 is considerably greater than the thickness of the film strip f but also considerably lesser than the first above noted transverse dimension.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, it will be noted that the inner portions of the opposite edge walls 4i, 5 of lthe tank body 1 define diverging angularly extending inner surfaces 7, 3, respectively. The edge walls 4, 5 further define a pair of opposite longitudinally extending film edge receiving grooves 9, 10, respectively, which open toward one another and into the developing chamber 6.

lt will be noted that the opposite grooves 9, 10 are varranged closer to the side vwall 2 than Vthe side Wall 3 so as to vbe adaptedto aid in the positioning of the film strip f within the developing chamber 6 in a generally transversely arcuate configuration, as noted above.

vAn Aimportant feature of this invention resides in the construction of Ithe tank body 1 to provide the inner surface of the side wall 3 thereof with a plurality of longitudinally spaced pimple or nodule-like protuberances 11 which project inwardly toward the other side wall 2 and which are adapted to maintain a slight spacing between the strip of film f and the inner surface of the side Wall 3, as shown particularly in FIG. 3. I

Y 1n accordance with this invention, closure means is provided for the opposite end portions 12, 13 of tank body 1, the same being removable to provide for the insertion and removal of the filmstrip f., The closure means at each end of the tank body 1 comprises a generally ree-k tangular closure block or closure member` 14 having a generally centrally located guide portion 15 adapted to project inwardly Within the developing chamber 6. The closure block 14 further defines an annular sealing surface adapted to mate with the annular end surface 16 of the tank body 1, and an annular flexible sealing gasket 17 is interposed between the closure block 14 and the 2, 3. In order to provide securement means for fastening the closure blocks 14 onto the tank body 1, a pair of resilient bands 19 are provided for each end of the tank body 1, the bands 19 at each end of the tank body 1 being criss-crossed around the closure block '14 and hooked over the appropriate studs 18. As shown particularly in FIG. 2, each of the closure blocks 14 further includes a longitudinally projecting generally cylindrical Vstub post 2d.

As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the tank body 1 defines adjacent both of its opposite end portions 12, 13 a laterally projecting shoulder portion 21, the latter of which defines a longitudinally outwardly opening bore 22. The edge wall 4 adjacent each of the shoulder portions 21 defines a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending apertures 23 which open into the developing chamber 6 and also into the adjacent bore Z2 of the shoulder portion 21. Each of the closure blocks 14 defines a passage 24 disposed in spaced relationship to the stub post thereof and further located so as to be in alignment with the bore 22 of the shoulder portion 21 when the closure blocks 14 are secured on Ithe opposite end portions 12, 13 of the tank body 1. It will be noted that each of the passages 24 is fitted with a longitudinally outwardly projecting conduit 25, as shown particularly in FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that the passageway defined by the conduit 25, the bore 22, and the apertures 23 at one end portion of the ytank body 1 provides a liquid opening extending into the developing chamber 6 and adapted for the insertion into the chamber 6 and drainage therefrom of developing and rinsing solutions. Also, the conduit 25, the bore 22, and the apertures 23 at the other end portion of the tank body 1 provides a fluid opening extending int-o the developing chamber 6 and adapted for the entry of air into the chamber 6 upon the drainage therefrom of the developing and rinsing solutions and for the exhaust of air from the chamber upon the insertion therein of said solutions.

It will be noted that a pair of flexible tubing sections 26 are provided in connection with the closure means at the opposite ends of the tank body 1. One of the tubing sections 26 is disposed with an end portion 27 thereof connected on the projecting end of the conduit at one end portion of the tank body 1 and its other end portion 28 is adapted for engagement upon the adjacent stub post 20 defined by the closure block 14. Of course, the tubing section at the other end of the tank body is similarly disposed. The placement of the lend portions 28 of the tubing sections 26 upon the stub post 20 provides means for closing the openings extending into the chamber 6 of the tank body 1.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the provision for the tank body 1 of a pair of generally cylindrical transversely extending body portions 29 one each of which is positioned in spaced relationship to but adjacent to an opposite end portion 12, 13 of the tank body 1, as shown particularly in FIG. l. The diameter of the generally cylindrical body portions 29 is generally equal to the greatest transverse dimension of the tank body 1. Obviously, the cylindrical body portions 29 may be integrally formed with the tank body 1 or also provided as an accessory therefor. The body portions 29 are generally concentrically arranged so as to provide means for rolling the tank structure upon a fiat surface and thereby, as indicated by an arrow around the tank body 1 in FIG. l, easily rotate the tank body 1, and insure complete coverage of the film strip f enclosed within the developing chamber 6. In this connection, i-t is noted that the solutions within the chamber 6 may be further agitated by simply inverting the tank body 1 end for end, yas indicated by arrows at the opposite ends of the body in FIG. l. It is further noted that the approximate liquid level for the solutions is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings by a broken line labeled X.

Having specifically described this invention, the operative simplicity Ithereof should be easily understandable. This invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and while I have shown and described above a preferred embodiment thereof in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, I wish it t-o be specifically understood that the same may be modified without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

Film developing apparatus for elongated strips of film,

said film developing apparatus comprising:

(a) an elongated tank body 'having spaced longitudinally extending side walls and spaced longitudinally extending edge walls connecting with said side walls and further defining an elongated developing chamber adapted to receive an elongated strip of film, said chamber having one of its transverse dimensions generally equal to but slightly less than the width of said film strip and its other transverse dimension considerably greater than the thickness of the film but considerably lesser than said one transverse dimension, the inner surface of one of the side walls of said tank body defining a plurality of longitudinally spaced protuberances which project inwardly toward the other of said side walls and which are adapted to maintain a slight spacing betweenV the film and said one side wall,

(b) closure means for the opposite ends of said tank body, said closure means at the ends of said tank body being removable to provide for the insertion and removal of said film strip, said closure'means at each end of said tank body comprising:

(l) a closure member,

(2) a sealing gasket interposed between said closure member and said tank body,

(3) securement means for fastening said closure member to the tank body, and

(4) an outwardly projecting stub post,

(c) said tank body defining a pair of opposite l-ongitudinally extending film edge receiving grooves which open toward one another and into said chamber, said grooves being arranged and adapted to position said film strip within said chamber in a transversely generally arcuate configuration,

(d) a closable liquid opening communicating with said developing chamber and defined by the closure member at one end of said tank at a position in spaced relation to the stub post of said closure member, said liquid opening being adapted for the insertion into said chamber and drainage therefrom of developing liquids,

(e) a closable fluid opening communicating with said developing chamber and defined by the closure member at the other end of said tank at a position in spaced relation to the stub post of said closure member, said iiuid opening being adapted for the entry of air into said chamber upon the drainage therefrom of the developing liquid and for the exhaust of air from said chamber upon ythe insertion therein of said liquid,

(t) a pair of fiexible tubing sections one of which has one of its ends connected to said liquid opening and the other of which has one of its ends connected to said fiuid opening, the other end of said tubing section being adapted for engagement with the adjacent stub post defined by said closure members, and

(g) said tank body including a pair of generally cylindrical transversely extending body portions one each of which is positioned adjacent an opposite end of said .tank body, the diameter of said cylindrical body portions being generally equal to the transverse dimension of said tank body.

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited bythe Examiner FOREGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 743,072 1/ 33 France.

4/37 Merker 220 59 X 909,492 12/45 France.

3/49 Hubbard 92-9G.5

1/51 Zobel et al 95H905 5 NORTON ANSHER, Przmary Exammer.

8/58 Parker 95-100 EMIL G. ANDERSON, Examiner.

9/62 Wolber 95-100 

